Renowned Yorkshire poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan, known for his distinctive voice and engaging storytelling, will be the narrator in a landmark event taking place on 22nd November at Skipton Town Hall.

As part of Skipton Camerata's 20th anniversary celebrations, the orchestra has commissioned Ian to write a set of twenty short poems which have been set to music by composer and conductor Ben Crick. The result is 'A Northern Score' which blends narration and orchestral music to celebrate the lives of twenty remarkable Yorkshire-born individuals spanning the Middle Ages to the present day, including Guy Fawkes, Emily Brontë and Fred Truman.

"It's a wonderful project," said Ian. I think of the finished article as twenty steps across the Yorkshire landscape, each step singing with the power of possibility and the joy of creativity. I'm proud of the words I've written for the pieces."

Ian recalls as a boy listening to Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley and in particular the spoken section in the middle. "Ever since I first heard those words I’ve been in love with the idea of words spoken over music and the special power that that combination has."

Ian's previous collaborations with Ben include the Baht ’At Variations recorded with Skipton Camerata during lockdown and a Yorkshire-dialect translation of Rossini's The Barber of Seville at last year's Bradford Opera Festival. And like Ian's poetry, Ben's music is steeped in the sights and sounds of his native Yorkshire.

Ben said, "The story of a place is ultimately the stories of its people, and this piece tells the story of Yorkshire through twenty amazingly varied men and women. The thing that has always excited me about being a musician is telling stories, which is why I love working with Ian. And it's also a great way to celebrate 20 years of Skipton Camerata. It feels a really special thing to be part of."

Tickets for 'A Northern Score' are now available at skiptoncamerata.com or at the Skipton Town Hall box office. Don't miss this extraordinary event that promises to be both an educational and emotional journey through Yorkshire's storied past.

Event Details:
What: World Premiere of 'A Northern Score' by Ian McMillan and Ben Crick
When: Friday 22 November 2024 at 7:30 pm.
Where: Skipton Town Hall, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Who: Narrated by Ian McMillan, conducted by Ben Crick, performed by Skipton Camerata